Believe it or not, Christmas is this weekend and if you are still looking for last-minute gifts, a special Krug hamper sold exclusively at Italian restaurant 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, at Alexandra House in Central is exactly what you are looking for.

Designed for all champagne lovers, the hamper includes a bottle of Krug Grande Cuvée and a bottle of Krug Vintage 1998; two Le Joseph Riedel Cristal glasses specially designed for Krug; a Francois Baucher stopper; and the Journey into the World of Krug Champagne book. Also inside are treats from 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, including:

- jambon Iberico de Bellota 'Patanegra' Grand Reserva 36 months
- 5-year old Parmigiano Reggiano D.O.P.
- artisanal panettone classico
- glass verrines of chef Bombana's selection of preserved vegetables
- torrone classico artisanal nougat

For HK$5,880, this special hamper is includes engraving services and delivery.

For information, please call +852 2537-8859.

Read more about Otto e Mezzo

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- Italians are in an uproar over the EU's effort to take away their right to call chocolate "less pure". (Worldcrunch)

- Why Pierre Hermé is considered the Hermès of macarons (Financial Times)

- If you're thinking of starting the next dining hotspot, here is the menu that should get the critics swooning. (EcoSalon)

- Ever thought of becoming a food writer? Here are some tips to get you started. (Forbes)

- Is it defensible to spend over US$1,500 on a kitchen gadget? The Atlantic takes a stab at doing just that. (The Atlantic)

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Dedicated to providing local customers with farm-fresh products that are grown and produced sustainably and ethically, Homegrown Foods is one of our favourite online grocers. Now, Homegrown Foods is expanding its product range with two new ranges of products.

The first one is La Colombe Coffe from the French American La Colombe roasting company. Highly praised for being environmentally conscious, La Colombe has been providing artisan coffee to coffee lovers in cafes, hotels and restaurants in the US. Homegrown Foods now carries the Corsica, Monte Carol and Nizza blends; while restaurants, such as the newly opened The Library Café in the Lane Crawford in Tsim Sha Tsui, Posto Pubblico and Linguini Fini, will also be offering La Colombe as their exclusive pouring coffee.

Also, the online grocer will also be providing red and white wines from wine producers such as Chateau Tour de Mirambeau, Le Grand Cros and Dowie Doole; all of whom are committed to reducing their carbon footprints and sustainable farming methods in France, Australia and New Zealand. The wine ranges from HK$116 to HK$300.

For more information and details, please visit: www.homegrownfoods.com.hk.

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Cafe Deco Group introduces a new member to it line of restaurants and bars in Central with the opening of Eivissa on Wyndham Street. Eivissa is Catalan for Ibiza, the famous island capital of Spanish-style partying. True to the Ibizan theme, Eivissa features blue-green coloured-lights and partitioned seating areas to create a sophisticated yet relaxing atmosphere.

Its menu features over 40 beverage choices, including premium wine and champagne such as Louis Latour Gevrey Chambertin les Cru Les Chaumes Pinot Noir 2007 and Louis Roederer Cristal 1999. Meanwhile, Eivissa also provides delectable snacks such as spiny lobster on spiced mango, smoked salmon and crabmeat with sour cream and capers; and organic beef cubes with foie gras.

For the opening promotional period, Eivissa is offering a special champagne hour promotion, offering Charles-Le-Bel for HK$80 per glass or HK$480 per bottle from 5pm to 8pm daily; during the same period, guests also enjoy a 30% off on all standard drinks as well.

77 Wyndham Street, Central. Tel: +852 2520-5818.

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- Is it still animal abuse if the livers of force-fed geese and ducks are found to be perfectly healthy? (The Economist)

- As if the whole bottled water industry isn't an environmentally-unfriendly scam already, now there is "organic water". (Huffington Post)

- A whole new meaning to "dinner and a movie". (Guardian)

- There are now personal chefs to cook your in-flight meals onboard Etihad. (Yahoo Philippines)

- Doughnuts and caneles are predicted to take the fine dining world by storm in 2012. (James Beard Foundation Blog)

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